Update of the PAST NEWS........ 22nd February 1868

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS...........

*Assault on Arthur Wragg –

Arthur Wragg was the alleged victim in last week’s news, but there was an Arthur Wragg who had been in trouble with the police before, but not as the victim.  Was it the same Arthur?  I think it probably was as there is only one Arthur Wragg that I can find as being born in Chesterfield of the right age; He was born in 1845, the son of John and Ann Wragg who resided on Church Alley, under the shadow if the Crooked Spire.  Arthur had a younger brother named Reuben.

On 23^rd December 1866 Arthur Wragg was charged with having assaulted an old man named George Fidler.  George stated that he was walking to his home on Silk Mill Yard when he saw Arthur, who proceeded to follow him down the yard to his front door, where he knocked him down at his door way.  It was also alleged that this was the third time this had happened. 

Arthur accused George of being drunk and having fallen himself.  He stated that George would have hurt his back “by tumbling out of bed drunk”.    George did not have any witnesses to collaborate his accusations and Arthur stood his ground and denied the actions.  Arthur told how George was swearing at him that night and agreed that he had walked over to him, at which point George had fallen over his own door mat.  George’s wife had also appeared and was said to have followed her husband falling over the door mat, whilst in her nightie. 

George recalled a few nights earlier when Arthur had been throwing stones at his door.  When he had gone out to Arthur, he had received a stone thrown straight at him which had extinguished the candle that he held for light. 

Arthur the defendant did have witnesses to the events of the 23^rd December.  Margaret Collins told how George was “swearing and making a noise about 8 o’clock”.  She went on to tell how she went to the door to see what the commotion was about, she heard George say “you’re on again – I’ll spend £5 over you” to which Arthur replied that he didn’t have £5.  At this George fell over the mat, his wife came out and also fell over the mat.  The couple, she thought, were drunk.  Bridget Lester also backed up Arthur’s version of events confirming that he did not touch George.

The Bench decided that there was insufficient evidence to convict Arthur Wragg and George was made to pay the 2s 6d fine for expenses. 

Only 7 months on; in August 1866 Arthur Wragg a collier aged 20 years old was again in trouble for fighting in Silk Mill Yard.  He was found in the early hours of Sunday 2^nd August stripped and fighting with another man.  Police Superintendent Stevens found the men and sent them packing.  But only 15 minutes later the argument had started up again.  The Bench heard how there was some sort of disturbance most weekends in the yard and how Arthur was a “great blackguard and nuisance”.  Arthur was of course not happy with this title and argued that he had gone into a friend’s home to clean up his face upon which when he returned back out into the yard he was attacked again.

His reputation did not do him justice and on this occasion Arthur was found guilty and sentenced to pay either 10s and costs or do 14 days imprisonment – to which he replied “By _____ I’ll do the 14 days like a horse”.

Was this the same Arthur Wragg as appeared as a victim in 1868?  Did he have a knack of finding trouble as he frequented the streets of Chesterfield?  Arthur Wragg died on 11^th June 1887 at Victoria Street, Chesterfield.  He was aged 42 years old and unmarried.  He did not leave a will and so administration of his estate was given to his brother Reuben. 

As for John Sweeney, he was around the same age as Arthur, being born sometime around 1845 in Ireland.  In the 1871 census he was working as a labourer and lodging with Malechy Tracey a bricklayer’s labourer on Saltergate.  What became of him after this is not known – does anyone know his whereabouts afterwards?

 

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Echoes of our Past NEWS ........ 22nd February 1868

Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1868?

MAIN NEWS –

*Cowardly Assault –

The heading of this story continued “on an Englishman by Irish”. 

It appears that Arthur Wragg was attacked by an Irish man named John Sweeney and four other men.  The incident occurred on Packers Row when Arthur was approached by a man who was waiting for him at the top of Wheat Sheaf Yard.  This person asked out to Arthur “Am in English or Irish?” to which Arthur replied “you are an Irishman”.  At this the offender hit Arthur and the other men also joined in the attack.  One of the gang of Irish men hit Arthur with a knuckle duster and he suffered a gash over his right eye. 

The gang then fled and other by-stander's came to see what the disturbance was.  Arthur went off after his attackers up Church Lane.  He found John Sweeney and approached him stating “I believe you are one of the party”.  At this another fight broke out and others became involved. 

The Mayor concluded that he wished to bring an end to “mob assaults and street riots” and fined John Sweeney £1 and costs or 21 days imprisonment with hard labour.

OTHER ITEMS –

*Situations Vacant –

v  YOUTH aged 15 to 17 years of age.  Must be able to write a “good plain hand”.  Apply to Isaac Bower, Accountant, Low Pavement, Chesterfield.

v  GENERAL SERVANT for a small family.  Must be competent “plain cooking and general housework”.  Wages £10 to £11 per year.  Required – good character reference.  Apply Derbyshire Times Office.

v  APPRENTICE BLACKSMITH apply to Mr Mirfin at Wingerworth.

v  HIGGLERS apply to New Brampton Colliery, Ashgate Road Nr Chesterfield.

v  PLUMBER journeyman, first class.  “Regular employment and high wages given to a steady industrious workman”.  Apply Mr W Britt, Ironmonger, South Street, Chesterfield.

v  COOK & GENERAL SERVANT in the Country.  Also a HOUSEMAID to attend on 3 children “not young; must be good sewer”.  Apply to Derbyshire Times Office.

v  MAN as a GROOM to look after a cow, “one from the country preferred” Apply to “A.B Derbyshire Times Office”.

*Stealing glasses from public houses –

A “wretched looking woman” named Eliza Lavender was charged with stealing 3 tumbler glasses from the Grapes Inn on Glumangate.  John Garlick was the landlord of the Inn and he alleged that 3 glasses had been stolen.

Elsewhere in the town centre Caroline Ellis, daughter of John Ellis landlord of the Ring O’Bells Inn was offered 3 tumbler glasses for sale by Eliza Lavender.  Eliza had asked for 1s 4d, but Caroline had got a bargain at the 3 for 1s 2d. 

Eliza admitted her theft and she was sent to the House of Correction for 21 days.

*Ladies quarrelling –

Two neighbours named Louisa Murphy and Ellen Thaker were in court for quarrelling on 14^th February.  Ellen was alleged to have assaulted Louisa.  Both were neighbours on Beetwell Street and the children of the 2 ladies had been arguing that day.  Louisa went to speak to Ellen about the children’s quarrelling and Ellen was supposed to have thrown a stone at her.  She had continued to call Louisa “very bad names”.

Ellen was found guilty of causing a disturbance and she was asked to produce £10 surety that she would keep the peace for 6 calendar months.

*Lucky escape –

A fast goods train ran into a mineral train at Staveley Station on Tuesday 18^th February after the signal had been carried out incorrectly.  Luckily the guard on board the engine had just left his break to uncouple the engine.  He saw the fast goods train heading towards him and was able to make his escape. 

The incident occurred around 8am and the line was clocked until around 3pm that afternoon, causing great disturbances.

*Linacre Reservoir –

Complaints had been numerous after the quality of the water was brought into concern this week in 1868.  The colour had been of “serious discolouration”.  It emerged that the “new and upper reservoirs” at Linacre had been involved in some sort of disturbance and this had resulted in much mud and dirt entering the reservoirs. 

Linacre was rendered “unfit for use”, much to the outrage of the residents of Chesterfield who relied on this source of water.  The water pressure in the pipes had also been weak for the past times.  The water authority was kind enough to send out containers of clean water on carts to give temporary aid to the residents.

MARRIAGES –

*Mr Joseph Bacon to Jane Robinson, second daughter of Mr Edward Robinson.  Both lived at Clay Cross and were married at North Wingfield Parish Church on 16^th February

*Mr Edwin Allison to Miss Emma Lievesley both of Holywell Street at the Free Wesleyan Chapel on Elder Yard on 18^th February

DEATHS –

*Thomas Knighton aged 83 years, shopkeeper of New Tupton on 16^th February

*Mrs Mary Ann Simmons aged 45 years, widow on 13^th February

*Ellis Hawksley aged 9 years and 3 months, son of Mr Aaron Hawksley at South Wingfield on 11^th February

*Sarah Elliott aged 35 years, wife of Mr Henry Elliott a potter at Brampton on 18^th February

*John Renshaw aged 1 year and 5 months at Tupton on 18^th February

WEATHER –

The heavy rain which had been seen the last week had resulted in the River Derwent being at its highest level seen for many months.  There had been much flooding of the area. 

The fish in the River Wye were said to be in “good order now for the fly”.  These were the days when fishing was done to catch and kill the fish to eat.  The writer boasted killing “16lbs in about two hours” at Whatstandwell Bridge.  He did advise anyone who was fond of fishing in the cold weather to go prepared….. not with warm clothes, but to make sure that they took a good supply of “flies” so as not to have to make them up at the side of the river when the hands were cold.

AND FINALLY…

*Large Pig –

A “large pig” had been advertised on a Bryan advertisement.  This “celebrity pig” had it seems now been killed and stuffed.  The people of Chesterfield were invited to view the said pig at Mr Guest’s Horse and Jockey Inn on Newbold Moor.  They said that the pig was “enormous…. Those interested in pigs should certainly pay it a visit”.